New Year's Eve Around Town

After a frenetic holiday season, it’s tempting to spend New Year’s Eve on the couch with Dick Clark and his Rockin’ three-hour delay “live” from New York’s Time Square while reflecting on your list of resolutions.  But hey, there’s plenty of time for that, and this is San Francisco!  An excess of exceptional celebratory options are out there, from the elegant and sublime to the unusual and entertaining.  So many choices, but only one chance to ring out the old and ring in the new.

Practically every hotel from the Grand Hyatt and the Nikko to the Westin St. Francis and the Clift hosts some kind of black-tie fête, each with tempting nibbles, flowing champagne, and dancing-‘til-you-drop music.  Check out hotel websites for details and tickets.

For something uniquely San Franciscan, Commodore Cruises is offering a four-hour party cruise complete with food, cocktails, a DJ, and tour of the bay.  From the Christmas lights of the marina to the Downtown waterfront, it’ll end with an incredible view of the fireworks explosion at Midnight.  The boat boards at 8:30 at Alameda’s Mariner Square.  $150 per person (includes two drinks), $75 kids 3-11, (510) 337-9000, www.commodoreevents.com

The San Francisco Symphony is bringing back Michael Feinstein for a gala concert featuring Gershwin, Berlin, and Porter classics.  Afterwards, guests are treated to party favors, savories, desserts, and free champagne, all the while dancing the night away.  At the stroke of midnight, 2008 balloons cascade from above.  9:00 PM, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue, Civic Center, $105-$175, (415) 552-8000, www.sfsymphony.org

At the new Yoshi’s, the legendary 17-piece “big band” Count Basie Orchestra combines blues and swing with a rhythm all their own.  Joining them is the Bay Area’s own Ledisi, who will perform jazz standards.  9:00 PM, Yoshi’s San Francisco, 1330 Fillmore Street, $100-$110, (415) 655-5600, http://sf.yoshis.com/sf/jazzclub

An unusually cool and kind of creepy way to spend New Year’s Eve is to head to the top of Nob Hill, where our own neo-Gothic Grace Cathedral presents two screenings of the restored 1929 original Phantom of the Opera, starring the “man of a thousand faces” Lon Cheney.  Organist Dorothy Papadakos plays the soundtrack live on Grace’s renowned Aeolian-Skinner organ.

KRON-TV’s Jan Wahl hosts the 7:00 pm screening, and at 10:00, the fabulous drag hostess Donna Sachet will preside.  Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street, $10, $5/Seniors and Students, (415) 749-6300. http://www.gracecathedral.org

For the fifth year, Marga Gomez, “America’s Most Wanted Latina Lesbian," presents her New Year's Eve Spectacular at Theatre Rhinoceros.  This year, 21-year-old gay Muslim comic Ali Mafi joins her, as they get down and dirty taking on the politics and pop culture of 2007.  Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street (at BART), $25, 7:00 PM & $30, 9:00 PM, (415) 861-5079. www.TheRhino.org

And in one show only, the fabulous Sandra Berhard greets 2008 with a bit of her biting wit at the The Castro Theatre in an evening of outrageous comedy and song starting at 11:00 PM.  429 Castro Street, $35 - $100, (415) 392-4400. www.cityboxoffice.com

If communing with nature is more your nature, then head out of South Beach Harbor with City Kayak for a paddle under the spectacular Bay Bridge.  You’ll skim the surface of the Bay as you watch the fireworks from your own little kayak, toasting midnight with your fellow paddlers and guides.  Double kayaks and instruction available.  The group will be escorted by a chase power boat.  City Kayak at South Beach Harbor, Pier 40 The Embarcadero, 10:30 PM - 1:00 AM, $75, (415) 357-1010. www.citykayak.com

If you haven’t yet decided how to greet 2008, never fear.  You still have a little time to plan and there’re so many options.  Whatever you do, may your celebration be jubilant and your new year be happy and healthy.

By Laura Fraenza